1. Wearable Collections
Mckenzie Harris

2. Wearable Collections
 NYC based company focused on keeping clothing, textiles and shoes out of landfills while generating funds for charities.
 By placing bins within apartment buildings, it allows residents to recycle clothing as easy as they can recycle cans and newspapers.
Wearable Collections provides a no cost, turn-key solution to recycling clothing within residential buildings in NYC. We handle all the logistics from placement of bins and promotion within the buildings to scheduling weekly pick-ups.

3. Wearable collections cont.
Through their established network they distribute discarded clothing around the world to people who need it, enabling us to raise money for charitable organizations.
Wearable collections recently launched (October 1st) a
new campaign focusing on the recycling of shoes.

4. The Social Shoe Project
“Where do my shoes really end up after I donate them?”
This lead them to create the #socialshoeproject
#socialshoeproject has all the things that Wearable Collections brings to the table: convenient collections, keep shoes out of landfills, and raising funds for charities with the added bonus of closing the circle.
“We are creating a platform for the first buyer to connect with the secondhand buyer in a distant land to not only illustrate the machinations of the international used clothing and shoe trade, but also to demonstrate that though many miles and cultures separate us the shared fashion experience has no boundaries.”
–Adam Baruchowitz, CEO

6. How it works
Take a shot - post a photo of your shoes on instagram, even with yourself in them, to show how you have enjoyed them and the life you have led in them -  Include #socialshoeproject
Tagging- fill out the tags or create your own unique tag to put on your shoes, While including  your social media handle of choice. Tie them together.
Donate - So many options to choose from: Many drop off locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, or sending them in.

8. #SocialShoeProject
Once they receive the shoes they will work on getting the shoes to where people will have access to them at affordable prices while raising funds for charity.
For every pair of shoes they receive, 25 cents will go to charity. 
Goal to collect 100,000 pairs by Jan 1, 2016. 
Message in the bottle effect while also raising awareness about recycling old clothing
“Even if a small percentage of these 100,000 pairs make connections it will be a lot. That is when the real magic begins. You may find that the same taste in shoes may not be the only thing you have in common.”

9. Why This?
My initial project was on the effects of climate change on Vail Mountain Ski Resort, and how Vail isn't taking steps to integrate sustainable practices into the resort.
Volunteering with Wearable Collections is my way of helping with educating people about sustainable practices while also integrating fashion.

10. Experience
I spent most of my time (6 hours) simply sorting clothing from their drop off location in Brooklyn.
I also helped with launching the campaign, and helped with the creation of the hashtag #socialshoeproject
I toured and spent time at their headquarters in Brooklyn and learned more in depth about the business of recycling used clothing and shoes.
I came up with the idea for them to integrate the social shoe projects at the farmers markets they already go to. By creating flyers for people to take about the project they can use their clothing drop off booth to increase awareness of the campaign.

11. Achievements
There was a successful launch of the social shoe project, which they hope to grow through social media.
I learned in depth about recycling clothing and most things end up in landfills although they can be reused.

12. Questions
Before: What is the life cycle of my clothing and the impact it has on the environment?
After: How big of an impact will this campaign have on people who don’t get responses?

13. Bibliography http://www.socialshoeproject.com/blog/
Z8BEiQAdzdVkAiR3H9KURNJjS56s6KpDI2sJPykZCjM81jOoSy0QjAaAp Lf8P8HAQ
initiative/